Symbolism – The Frog. By Sarah Corbett

The symbol of forces perpetuating life.

Karakalpak – A type of Tu’yme worn in Central Asia by the Karakalpak peoples is known as Qurbaqa meaning the frog.

Egypt – The frog was a symbol of life and fertility, millions of frogs were born each year after the inundation of the Nile, which brought fertility to the otherwise barren lands.

In Egyptian mythology there was a frog goddess called Heget / Heket who represented fertility circa 3100bc

Mesamerica – Many pre Columbian tribes worshiped a goddess called Tlazolteotl. She was the patron of childbirth and fertility and took the form of a frog or toad with many udders.

The Aymara tribes of Peru and Bolivia made small frog images which they placed on Hilltops to summon rain to bring fertility to the land.

Early Aztecs worshipped Tlalcuhti, the earth mother goddess , she embodies the cycle of life and death and is usually represented squatting giving birth to the world.

The Celts believed that the frog was lord over all earth and sent healing through cleansing rains.

In China to place a frog in the East window of your home would encourage childbirth.

In Africa the Saharan women from Kel Dennek of Niger would gift a leather bag to their daughters. Upon the daughters announcement of pregnancy the bag would be displayed inverted to reveal the image of a frog.

In Morocco we find the form of a frog in jewellery and also tattooing these symbols were to bring fecundity to the wearer.

In British Columbia Early tattoos of frogs were recorded.

In Indian mythology the world is balanced on the back of a giant frog. The frog is also the symbol of fertility.

In Bukhara a crown bearing symbols of three frogs which represent birth, development and decay. The cycle of life

The Inuit use a frog as a totem to symbolise abundance

It seems that the symbolism surrounding this small amphibian is truly global!